REPORT FOR DECISION Agenda item no:

Middleton Township Committee 10 th November 2011

Sustrans Connect2 walking and cycling network proposals for Middleton

Wards affected: Middleton Township Report Author: Howard Gott wards Telephone: (01706) 922019

To provide members with the opportunity to approve options for the route connecting Middleton Township to the reconstructed canal towpath at Boarshaw, using Connect2 funding.

1. It is recommended that:

1.1 Committee approve the route A- K as shown in the accompanying drawing to be taken forward for improvement and signing as the Connect2 Middleton Link.

1.2 Committee approve the destination of the Middleton Heritage area surrounding St Leonard’s church , with alternative routes signed.

1.3 Individual concerns from members regarding sections of identified routes are noted.

1.4 Chair, Vice and Service Director, Planning & Regulation be authorised to approve any modifications to the proposed route in order to ensure optimisation of funding.

2. Reasons for recommendation: 2.1 The proposed link will complete the Connect2 network into Middleton and provide residents and visitors with sustainable travel choices for a variety of journeys from commuting to leisure and tourism. 2.2 The proposals contribute to aims in the Community Plan relating to increased provision of walking and cycling routes, local indicator Env 064 measuring the number of households within 800m of a standard route, and Local Transport Plan aims to enable more short trips on foot or by cycle. 2.3 The proposals contribute significantly to Aiming High priorities in: Creating a cleaner, greener environment; Improving health and wellbeing. There will also be

1 some contribution to: Increasing jobs and prosperity; Improving community safety. 2.4 The proposals increase the options for visitors to the historic centre of Middleton, integrating with the Townscape Heritage Initiative, and link directly into the Middleton Town Centre Masterplan proposals for a greenway route through the Middleton Gardens area.

3. Alternatives considered:

3.1 A number of alternative routes were considered. Deliverability, construction cost and useability were reasons for not pursuing these routes, though given unlimited funds, some of the alternatives would be feasible. The proposed routes are deliverable within the March 2013 Connect2 funding timescale, are estimated to be within budget, and will deliver a useable, high quality walking and cycling link to central Middleton. 3.2 Not going ahead with any proposals to link Middleton with the rest of the boroughwide Connect2 network would result in an incomplete project from the funder’s point of view, resulting in grant clawback, which could include the £164000 cost of towpath works from Boarshaw to Castleton. 3.3 There would be an incomplete network of high quality walking and cycling routes across the borough, with only Middleton township excluded. Middleton residents would be poorly served by sustainable travel options compared with the rest of the borough, including access to Kingsway, other employment sites, and the National Cycle Network. 3.4 borough’s 41km Connect2 network is the longest national Connect2 scheme, and also completes a large section of National Cycle Route 66 from to West Yorkshire. Non completion of the Middleton link would affect the reputation and track record of Rochdale Council in delivering similar projects, potentially affecting future external funding opportunities. The Rochdale scheme is one of the projects Sustrans wish to see completed, and they have allocated additional funds to assist Rochdale council to complete the project.

4. Consultation undertaken/proposed: 4.1 Consultation with members of the public took place at the time of the televised national vote in late 2007. The percentage vote for Sustrans Connect2 was 37%, nationally and locally, showing a high approval rate for walking and cycling schemes. 4.2 The overall proposals for the Connect2 network were taken to Middleton Township Committee in 2008/9, and general approval was given subject to detailed proposals being submitted at an appropriate time. 4.3 The current proposals were taken to Middleton Regeneration Group and Middleton Culture, Leisure, Tourism and Community Cohesion Group in September and October 2011 respectively. 4.4 The Connect2 Steering Group is made up of members of the public, a councillor chair, representatives of community and interest groups, partner organisations, and RMBC officers. The group meets quarterly and is updated on plans and progress. The group is able to guide priorities, bring ideas and have a say in how the project is run and delivered. The Steering Group has approved the general proposals for Middleton and is aware of the current options.

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5. Main Report

Background: 5.1 This report follows earlier information (2008/9 to Middleton Township) regarding the Sustrans Connect 2 programme funded by the Big Lottery Peoples’ Millions award. 5.2 The Council won through to the final stages of the Sustrans request for schemes that could be part of a submission to the People’s Millions fund. Having reduced the original 400 submissions from throughout the country down to 69, Sustrans went on to win the public vote in December 2007, in competition with five strong contenders including The Eden Project and the Sherwood Forest Centre. 5.3 The Council’s scheme provided a walking and cycling network connecting the four Townships, key destinations, workplaces and leisure opportunities, using the Rochdale Canal towpath as the spine route. The towpath is designated as Route 66 of the National Cycle Network, on which 4km were upgraded in 2006/7 as part of a walking and cycling access scheme to Kingsway Business Park. Connect2 has now upgraded the towpath route from Warland in the north to Boarshaw bridge, the connection point to Middleton. 5.4 Recently a Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) bid has been successful. This will add considerably to the regeneration aspirations of the Township through emphasis on its unique social and cultural history.

Report: 5.5 Appendix 1 is attached giving details of a number of routes that could fulfill the aims of Connect 2. There are several other potential routes, omitted for clarity, that link the town centre and some of the rich historical sites in Middleton but mainly those involving Edgar Wood. 5.6 Primarily a decision needs to be given as to whether the emphasis of the route destination is to be the town centre or the heritage area. Whichever is chosen, links to the other will be identified and signed. 5.7 Sustrans funding will only be available to create the connection to the destination from National Cycle Network route 66, the canal towpath at Boarshaw. An extended (aspirational) network is included in the overall scheme to show how that could be drawn into future initiatives and opportunities. It also aids future planning to ensure that sustainable access is not hindered or prevented by individual developments. 5.8 Planning routes by committee is notoriously difficult and members are urged to give general approval to all the individual routes whilst obviously identifying areas of concern. These will be investigated (along with points raised at Middleton Regeneration Group on 28/9/2011) and Chair, Vice and Service Director asked to approve changes should that be necessary. 5.9 On the attached proposals map, the proposed route in red provides a balance between route surfaces and conditions against the cost that could be involved in completing routes taking in more unsurfaced or legally difficult sections. Connections from this proposed route are: • The canal towpath, recently constructed to Connect2 standards from the bridge at Higher Boarshaw, linking the Middleton section to the rest of the Connect2 network. • The Town Centre Masterplan for Middleton town centre includes a greenway (a pedestrian and cycle priority route) from Cemetery Street

3 through the centre and Middleton Gardens to the bus station and the Irk Valley paths. • There are proposals for redevelopment of the British Vita site which could allow future connections from the Little Green and Glenwood Drive area to Mills Hill station. 5.10 The interim route shown in blue on the proposals map avoids an area affected by Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam (a riverside path between Hilton Fold Lane and the footbridge marked “FB” on the map). Signing this interim route, which is largely on traffic calmed roads, will give time to fully treat the affected areas of knotweed and balsam before finalizing the more direct riverside route.

6. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Connect2 is a funded programme and thus there are no funding implications regarding these proposals.

7. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 7.1 There are minor land ownership issues to address on the riverside path section of the proposed route, and in the Little Green area. Permissions to improve surfaces and/or allow access to the route on owned land may be required.

8. RISK ASSESSMENT IMPLICATIONS 8.1 There are no specific risk issues for members to consider arising from this report.

9. EQUALITIES IMPACTS 9.1 There are no equality/community issues arising form this report.

For further Information and Background Papers: For further information about this report or access to any background papers please contact Howard Gott. Tel: 01706 922019

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